By Luciana Ballesteros-Heras
Respectfully dedicated to Kathy Zack
“Your smile was missed this year.”
Photos courtesy Michelle Harvey
Twenty-four volunteers, a phenomenal kitchen team of six, and eight remarkable youth actors all united to provide forty-three children with one euphoric week centered on Jesus Christ. St. Elizabeth Seton held its fifth annual Vacation Bible School for children aged five through thirteen on the week of July fourteenth, during the hours of 5:30 through 8:45. The five-day program revolved around the themes of the Catholic Liturgical Year, and thus, as the week progressed, the children explored the five most prominent liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, and Easter.
Upon their initial arrival, the students absorbed the beauty of the Parish hall where five glorious hand-painted banners, themed after each Liturgical season, hung in the air. An immersive castle scenery greeted them at the entrance, and a recreated Jerusalem marketplace was quaintly situated in the back corner of the area. Our Musical Director commenced each day with a stirring selection of music, followed by an introduction of the present Liturgical season, complemented by a lesson concerning the “virtue of the day.” After the lecture the students avidly spectated a themed skit performed by a rotating cast of eight diligent youth volunteers. Following this theatrical sensation and a soulful prayer, the children were dismissed into four groups and then escorted to their first of four classes.
In the Faith forum, often referred to as the “prayer room” by students, a troupe of three devoted volunteers educated the children on biblical stories, emphasized Christian principles, and engaged the students in riveting discussions. During Wednesday’s classes the children were elated to receive an unanticipated, yet fervently appreciated, visit from St. Elizabeth Seton’s pastor, Father Williams Abba. Through the students’ inquisitive interrogation, Fr. Williams revealed his captivating views on the Liturgical year and the inspiring realities of his journey to Priesthood. Throughout the week, amidst the calming, quiet air of the “prayer-room” the children were enlightened about the profound significance of the Liturgical Year.
By contrast, the game period, a lively and exhilarating class, tested not the students’ mental but their physical capabilities. From Monday through Thursday the children were engaged in physical recreation. They dashed through gauntlets, raced the ticking of the clock, and were challenged to cooperate with team-mates and comply with game regulations. Some delivered invigorating victory to their side, while others experienced inconsolable defeat. Regardless of triumph or failure, the winning and losing teams alike rejoiced at Friday’s al fresco physical session. In lieu of air-conditioning, students were refreshed by a rejuvenating series of dampening water-games.
By seven o’clock of each night all groups rejoined in the assembly hall to feast on a delectable, satisfying snack, hand-prepared by a marvelous kitchen-crew of six. The dedication and effort that these volunteers had committed to the event is immeasurable, as evidenced in the service and care they provided to the ravenous students.
Following their replenishing banquet the students were escorted to the next stations.
For the aroused children, the craft session was a quiet repose. Conducted by four obliging women, that room was filled with flourishing artistry, boundless creativity, and unconstrained imagination. Cheerfully and eagerly, students crafted wreaths, candles, puppets, paintings, dolls, rosaries, and, finally, a hand-embellished picture frame, encasing a photograph of the child’s class. Some scrupulously and methodically structured their creations while others liberally and leisurely turned their piece into abstract and nonobjective art, but the variant and diversity in God’s creations was never so unmistakably apparent.
Lastly, two musical coordinators guided the students through musical exercises (quite to the literal extent). In addition to lively, tuneful choruses and the winding yet amusing dances encouraged by youth volunteers, the music leaders guided the students in religious renditions of popularized games: musical chairs, freeze dance, and Guess the Song.
Nearing the end of the night, the children regrouped, reprised the initial assembly, and were then dismissed.
On Monday, they came bewildered, most unsure of where to go or what to do. On Tuesday they came with hope that the day may be similar if not even more joyous than the last. By Wednesday, they arrived with uplifted spirits, now certain that the day would bring them gaiety and laughter. Thursday was the lagging period of both effort and soul. Volunteers accompanied students in their exhaustion, but blithe, bustling, yet bittersweet Friday was the redemption of Thursday and all the days prior—that is, if they needed any remission. St. Elizabeth Seton’s fifth annual Vacation Bible School could be summarized as forty-three animated scholars, thirty jovial instructors, and eight privileged adolescent volunteers who—teachers and taught alike—emerged from the week with renewed appreciation, strengthened regard, and deepened knowledge of their faith.
